After spending six weeks on the NFL's veteran free agent market, Nick Harper decided there was no place like home.

The Indianapolis Colts' veteran cornerback, free to test his value on the open market since March 1, agreed to a two-year contract with the team. Hadley Engelhard, Harper's agent, confirmed the deal Thursday but declined to address financial details.

Harper could not be reached for comment.

"There was quite a bit of interest in Nick and a couple of interesting situations," Engelhard said. "We kept our options open.

"But in the end, Nick really wanted to stay in Indy. Fortunately there was a meeting of the minds."

The return of Harper, 30, is a boost to the Colts' young secondary. He has started 30 games during his four-year career with the team, including 27 the past two seasons. Harper also started two playoff games last season.

Harper provides experience to a group that includes Jason David, Von Hutchins, Donald Strickland and Joseph Jefferson. Harper has also been productive, with three interceptions last season and a team-high four in 2003.

He is the sixth unrestricted free agent to re-sign with the Colts but the first defensive player. Previously the team re-signed running backs Edgerrin James and Dominic Rhodes, offensive tackle Ryan Diem, wide receiver Troy Walters and quarterback Travis Brown.

Also, we are going to lose out on Henry most likely, and take a RB in the first.

Quote:

Bucs eye unhappy Bills RBA deal for Travis Henry, who lost his starting job, could change the club's draft focus.

By ROGER MILLS, Times Staff WriterPublished April 15, 2005

TAMPA - Looking at a draft board with at least three top-level running backs, the Bucs could take one with the fifth overall pick.

Then again, they may get one via trade.

General manager Bruce Allen said he contacted the Bills on Wednesday about the possibility of acquiring running back Travis Henry, who has one year left on his contract but wants out of Buffalo.

"I spoke to the Bills," Allen said Thursday, careful not to elaborate.

Although the Bucs likely will speak to a number of teams over the next seven days, the possibility of acquiring Henry, a 5-foot-9, 215-pounder who has two 1,000-yard campaigns in four seasons, could seriously alter their approach on draft day April 23.

Should the Bucs pull off a trade, which likely wouldn't happen until next week, they could turn their attention to the two highly rated receivers, USC's Mike Williams or Michigan's Braylon Edwards, or can trade up to get either Utah quarterback Alex Smith or California quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Henry's agent, Hadley Engelhard, said he has had a discussion with the Bucs and anticipates further conversation.

"We have had dialogue, and will continue to talk," Engelhard said Thursday. "There are several teams that would be a good fit for Travis."

The Bills' asking price is unclear, though they have reportedly asked for a second-round pick.

Henry, who missed six games last season because of injury, became expendable with the emergence of second-year player Willis McGahee, the former Miami Hurricane.

Due to earn $1.25-million this season, Henry made it clear at the end of 2004 that he wanted out of Buffalo.

"I am definitely not going back to Buffalo, if that's what you want to hear," he told the Associated Press in late March. "No minicamps. No training camps. Nothing. I packed my stuff and left. As soon as the season was over, I was out of there and I didn't have any plans of coming back."

Acquiring Henry wouldn't be too problematic because he could play under the current deal with the understanding he'd work out a new one down the line.

Since the Bills gave Henry, 26, permission to seek a trade, he has been the subject of multiple rumors.

At one point, the Cardinals were considered the front-runners as the teams were working out a deal that would send tackle L.J. Shelton to the Bills.

But the Bills have indicated that a player-for-player swap may not be enough.

"We are not interested in that," general manager Tom Donahoe said this week. "We will listen. We will see what happens over the next (week). If it happens, great. If it doesn't happen, Travis has a contract to play for the Buffalo Bills."

That trade with the Cardinals seemed dead until this week, when Cardinals coach Dennis Green told the Arizona Republic the deal had "a heartbeat."

This might help explain the Bucs' interest in finding out the market for Henry, a former second-round pick from Tennessee.

A Frostproof native who lives in Orlando, Henry has said he'd be interested in playing for the Bucs.

Rant time:

Again... now our choices at CB include Ty Law (who would never come here... and is old) and Andre Dyson (who will either re-sign with TEN, or get a big payday somewhere else).

So I see us with Macklin (who is a #2, not a #1), and a mid-round pick like Antonio Perkins. Wow. We're going to get burned all over.